The magnificent seven: Super litter of ‘adorable but hard work’ puppies for champion dog

Raising a family is no easy task as any mum will testify – especially when there are seven hungry mouths to feed. It has been a labour of love for champion dog Nova, who has taken a short break from picking up top trophies to feed her litter of seven adorable Japanese Spitz puppies.

The super litter arrived just nine weeks ago, taking owner Alison Gibson from Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, by surprise.

“The average delivery of pups for dogs like Nova is three to four and so we were taken aback when our vet’s scan revealed six.

“It was only a few ­minutes after Nova delivered her sixth puppy – all of them healthy girls – that another appeared.

“He was a bouncing boy who had somehow eluded the ultrasound scan. I guess it was a bit crowded for them all and he was hiding at the time.

“They are all adorable but have been hard work for Nova, especially as they are now nine weeks old.”

Alison is always being asked how she manages to keep snowy white dogs pristine.

“They’re fastidious and will spend hours grooming and washing themselves,” she revealed.

Champions dogs

Five of the Japanese Spitz puppies have already got good homes with new families that stretch from the Channel Island of Jersey to Cupar in Fife.

Supermum Nova is from a dynasty of champion dogs who have captured the hearts of dog-show judges, including at the most prestigious event of them all – Crufts.

Her father Kai, who was bought by Alison as a family pet 12 years ago, made his debut TV appearance at Crufts in 2019 as best of breed.

“It was very nervous walking around with the world and top judges scrutinising every step we both took,” said Alison.

“Certainly, a moment I will never forget.”

In 2020 he was back winning best veteran dog at the old age of seven, around 47 in human years.

The average lifespan of the breed is 12 to 15 years.

Nova kept her family reputation going with a Champion award last year.

“These are lovely results, all from Kai who was bought as a family pet,” Alison adds.

Her two daughters – Nicole 26, and Emma 19 – helped in the busy early days of the pups’ lives.

“My wee granddaughter Ariella Harte, who is five, has had the time of her life fussing over Nova’s pups.

“This also helped them become used to children so that when they go to their new families they have been well and truly socialised.”

‘They have certainly thrived’

The Gibson family are thinking of keeping two of the puppies. “One certainly, and ­possibly two,” Alison revealed.

The family also have Akira, Nova’s older brother, now eight.

Retiring grandad Kai wears his success with humility, say the family, and he prefers to spend his retirement snoozing in the family lounge when he is not out walking.

“He wears his Crufts awards lightly because he is, at heart, a very family-orientated dog who loves nothing better than sleeping at our feet,” Alison adds.

Nova’s vet, Dr Sam MacQueen, said: “She has produced a remarkable litter of seven because Japanese Spitz dogs usually only have three or four.

“To put it in context, these dogs are not much bigger than Pomeranians.

“We saw six on the ultrasound scan and then the seventh appeared, delivered last after his sisters. They have certainly thrived.”

Litter of 24 was world’s biggest

The largest litter on record stands at 24 puppies.

On November 29 2004, the staggering two-dozen pups were born to a mastiff named Tia in Cambridgeshire.

Over the past decades, no dogs have produced more puppies as a single litter, but a few have come close…

In 2014, a sheepdog named Stella gave birth to a whopping 17 pups at once. The dog delivered the puppies with the help of a vet in California.

And in March 2018, the owners of a tiny mother chihuahua named Laugh Out Loud hopefully saw the funny side when she gave birth to an amazing 11 puppies.

The labour took place in the family’s home and lasted for 12 hours.

In 2019, a Dalmatian named Melody gave birth to 19 puppies at once in Australia. Melody’s owner said her dog gained more than 30lb when she was preparing to deliver, but they had no idea so many puppies would arrive.